Private legal practitioner, Serwaah Sarfo Mensah has responded to recent comments made by actor and radio presenter, Mickey Osei Berkoe, regarding the airing of foreign movies during prime time.
In an interview on Showbiz A-Z, Berkoe expressed his belief that showing telenovelas during prime time is a criminal act and suggested that media houses should be prosecuted for causing financial loss to the state. However, Serwaah Sarfo Mensah disagrees with this assertion, stating that there is no explicit law prohibiting the airing of foreign content on television in Ghana.
During an interview with Andy Dosty on the Daybreak Hitz show, Serwaah Sarfo Mensah clarified that it is not a crime to show international content on TV in Ghana. She emphasized that for an act to be considered criminal, there must be a specific offense associated with it, which is not the case with the broadcasting of foreign movies.
Drawing from her personal experience, the legal practitioner shared how consuming international content has benefited her career. She mentioned a case she had in court where watching a telenovela helped her devise strategies and plans that influenced the outcome of the case.
Serwaah Sarfo Mensah also highlighted the positive impact of airing foreign movies during prime time, noting that it fosters income generation and promotes cultural understanding. She emphasized the importance of embracing the diversity that international content brings and encouraged Ghanaians to appreciate the educational and entertainment value that foreign shows offer.
Serwaah Sarfo Mensah urged media houses not to limit themselves to only showcasing Ghanaian content but to also explore international programming for the benefit of viewers. She emphasized the need to utilize foreign content as a tool for competition, marketing, and education, as it contributes to a richer cultural exchange and strengthens relationships between countries.
